Using the old Pinnacle set as a guide, 2016-17 Panini Aficionado incorporates the hobby of the 1990s into a modern NBA release
with a textured print technology.

Hobby boxes contain two hits, including one autograph, and each pack averages two inserts or parallels .

Panini America is breaking out a proud name from collecting’s past and bringing it to basketball for the first time, providing hoops fans
and hobbyists with the chance at a proper introduction to the uniqueness of the Aficionado brand.

A baseball-only release that burst onto the scene with a one-season run in 1996, Aficionado stood out on the strength of its base-card aesthetics.

As you’ll see in this extended preview, the good looks return — along with a bevy of modern niceties that weren’t necessarily commonplace two decades ago.

As 2016-17 Aficionado Basketball’s solicitation suggests, the product is “designed, built and tailored to be a true collector’s product”
and “showcases the most uniquely designed insert cards of the year.”

On average, each box of the product (eight cards per pack, 10 packs per box, 12 boxes per case)
will deliver one autograph, one memorabilia card and 20 inserts or parallels.

In addition, Endorsements celebrates the league's superstars, First Impressions is reserved for rookie signatures,
and International Ink covers the foreign-born players with a flag background.

A 150-card base set featuring the Global Icons and Inducted subsets.

Collect three of the sharpest-looking autograph insert sets of the 2016-17 release year in Endorsements (featuring the top names in the game,
both active and retired), International Ink (featuring foreign-born stars set against their home country’s flag)

and First Impressions (featuring members of the 2016-17 rookie class).

- Eye-popping designs on some of the year’s most collectible inserts in Meteor, Power Surge and Slick Picks.

Not just about the hits, 2016-17 Panini Aficionado Basketball showcases some bold insert designs. Meteor goes
with an explosive sky background, while Power Surge is filled with lightning. Opting for a more ornate look, Slick Picks lives up to its name.

Giving collectors a shot at free cards, 2016-17 Panini Aficionado is included in the 2016-17 Panini NBA Day Promo.

A little over 20 years ago, trading card maker Pinnacle put out a premium baseball product that truly stood out at the time
due to its use of neat printing techniques and other gimmicks.

It lasted just a season, though, but aspects of it left a lasting impression with collectors.

Flash forward to today, and basketball collectors are about to get a taste of that same nostalgia with a few modern twists.

While 2016-17 Panini Aficionado Basketball is not likely to have a box scented like bubble gum like the original release,
there is certainly plenty of retro-syle fun featuring the NBA’s best and new textured print technology, too.

Base Set and Parallels :

With a design echoing the original baseball set, 2016-17 Panini Aficionado Basketball will have 150 different base cards
which includes subsets like Global Icons and Inducted.

Panini America claims it is trying to create a “true collector’s product” here and a strong base set is a good start in that direction.

The Opening Night Preview Edition parallels also evoke the previous release to some degree.

Back in the day, select collectors received 1996 Pinnacle Aficionado

First Pitch Preview cards that rank among the most limited from that crazy decade.

Inserts :

One area where 2016-17 Panini Aficionado is expected to stand out is inserts.

Boasting visually appealing designs, announced collections include Meteor and Power Surge along
with the throwback Slick Picks that utilizes the original design for that set.

There will be 20 inserts or parallels per box, which breaks down to two per pack on average.
It is not known if this will be evenly split between the two categories.

Autographs and Memorabilia :

Each 10-pack box of 2016-17 Panini Aficionado will contain one autograph and one memorabilia card.

The only announced collections with material are the Single
and Dual Authentics, but there are several types of autographs to look out for.

Starting with the on-card Signatures, the designs get more elaborate and eye-catching
with International Ink and First Impressions.

The winner of the bunch could be Endorsements, which has a simple, yet attractive, look.

- Endorsements – Top NBA players both active and retired
- International Ink – Players proud of their heritage set against the flag of their home county
- First Impressions – Members of the 2016-17 NBA rookie class
- Signatures – A fresh look with ON-CARD signature

- 1 Memorabilia Card in Every Box!

- Single & Dual Authentics

Aficionado Insert Sets :

- Meteor
- Power Surge
- Slick Picks
- 150-Card Base Set

- Subsets – Global Icons & Inducted
- Opening Night Parallels

We’ll have plenty more on 2016-17 Aficionado, which releases in late March,
in the coming weeks right here on The Knight’s Lance.

A little over 20 years ago, trading card maker Pinnacle put out a premium baseball product that truly stood out at the time
due to its use of neat printing techniques and other gimmicks.

It lasted just a season, though, but aspects of it left a lasting impression with collectors.

Flash forward to today, and basketball collectors are about to get a taste of that same nostalgia with a few modern twists.

While 2016-17 Panini Aficionado Basketball is not likely to have a box scented like bubble gum like the original release,
there is certainly plenty of retro-syle fun featuring the NBA’s best and new textured print technology, too

Base Set and Parallels

With a design echoing the original baseball set, 2016-17 Panini Aficionado has 150 different base cards,
which includes subsets like Global Icons and Inducted.

Panini America claims it is trying to create a “true collector’s product” here and
a strong base set is a good start in that direction.

The Opening Night Preview Edition parallels for the first 100 cards also evoke the previous release to some degree.

Back in the day, select collectors received 1996 Pinnacle Aficionado First Pitch Preview cards that rank
among the most limited from that crazy decade.

Inserts

One area where 2016-17 Panini Aficionado Basketball is expected to stand out is inserts.

Boasting visually appealing designs, these include Meteor and Power Surge along
with the throwback Slick Picks that utilizes the original design for that set.

There are 20 inserts or parallels per box, which breaks down to two per pack on average.

Autographs and Memorabilia

Each 10-pack box of 2016-17 Panini Aficionado contains one autograph and one memorabilia card.

The only announced collections with material are the Single
and Dual Authentics, but there are several types of autographs to look out for.

Starting with the on-card Signatures, the designs get more elaborate and eye-catching
with International Ink and First Impressions.

The winner of the bunch could be Endorsements, which has a simple, yet attractive, look.

Panini America’s never-been-done before Aficionado brand takes its lead, at least aesthetically, from 1996 Aficionado Baseball,
a product from a proud collecting era that made a name for itself with just one solitary release.

Fast forward more than 20 years and Panini America’s Basketball Product Development Team is preparing to introduce NBA collectors
to the Aficionado experience with Friday’s release of 2016-17 Aficionado.

Back in 1996, Aficionado stood out on the strength of its base-card aesthetics.

As you’ll see in the Quality Control Gallery that follows, the good looks return
along with a bevy of modern niceties that weren’t necessarily commonplace two decades ago.

As 2016-17 Aficionado Basketball’s solicitation suggests, the product is “designed, built
and tailored to be a true collector’s product.”